Huge boost for Connacht as Aki and Dillane pledge futures to province

DAVID CONNORS

CONNACHT Rugby has been giving a massive boost ahead of their big Pro12 clash with Leinster this weekend by the news that Bundee Aki and Ultan Dillane have both signed contract extensions for the province.

Speculation had been rife about the futures of the two players but both players have committed their long-term futures to Connacht. Aki has signed a provincial deal which will see him remain until 2020, while Dillane’s extension is until 2019.

Aki, in particular, spoke of the “heaps” of clubs interested in his signature following his impressive form last season when he was awarded the Pro12 player of the campaign, but he said Galway has become home for him and, in the end, it was a “quite easy decision” to stay at the Sportsground.

Speaking about the contract extensions, Head Coach, Pat Lam stated: “I’m really pleased that Bundee and Ultan have committed their futures to Connacht Rugby. Two talented rugby players, naturally their performances have attracted a lot of attention and there is no doubt that they had options in terms of where they could play. But I believe it is a massive statement about what we are doing here as a team and an organisation that they were both so determined to continue to play their part.”

22-year-old, Dillane had also been heavily linked with a return to his native Munster after showing some fine form over the past season which resulted in Joe Schmidt calling him into the Irish squad for their Six Nations campaign.

“Connacht Rugby has given me so many opportunities since I started in the Academy and I’m delighted to have signed on again. I am enjoying my rugby so much here and am excited about the future of this team and the province,” said Dillane.

Connacht take on Leinster this Saturday, at the RDS, in a repeat of last year’s historic Pro12 final in which the men in green defeated all the odds and emerged victorious. Victory in this game would see Connacht win an impressive five inter-provincial matches in-a-row but history is against them having only recorded one victory at the RDS in the professional era.

Lam knows his side have quite a difficult task on their hands, “Obviously we haven’t won in the RDS before (under Lam). We beat Leinster in March, we beat Munster in April, we beat Leinster in May and we beat Ulster at the start of the month. That’s four-in-a-row. When you consider it’s never been done, we’re pretty proud of what we have done.”

The New Zealand born manager sees his selection options bolstered by Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Tiernan O’Halloran and Eoin Griffin all returning to full training this week and are in contention for selection ahead of the clash.